Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Abia recorded a low turnout of civil servants as work resumed Tuesday after the New Year celebration.

The correspondent who monitored the resumption of work in Umuahia reports that only a few workers were seen at their duty posts.

Most of the offices visited at the state secretariat located at Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, were under lock and key, while a few workers around were seen cleaning up their offices.

The incursion of harmattan dust on building openings made the secretariat look like a place deserted for months.

Meanwhile, other workers were seen in groups, exchanging pleasantries and sharing their holiday experiences.

Also, at the secretariat, the eateries and shops had yet to open for business, while the car parks were literally empty.

A lot of workers who travelled home for the celebration are yet to return.

Most workers refused to speak to our correspondent, saying they were not permitted to grant interviews to the press.

However, some of them, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that most of those who travelled may not come back until the weekend.

They said the workers were expected to resume fully by Monday.

A director in the Ministry of Lands and Survey, while condemning the trend of low turnout, said that it was a breach of the civil service rule.

“Work has resumed, and you can see me in the office, but I cannot do much because those working with me are yet to resume.

 “I appeal to them to come to work because a directive for resumption was passed even before the holiday,” he said.

A civil servant, Christy Kalu, said the low turnout was normally witnessed after festivities.

(NAN)